Effects of Cistanche Supplementation on Anaerobic Exercise Performance and Recovery in Men With Different Athletic Training Levels

Official title

Effects of Cistanche Supplementation on Anaerobic Exercise Performance and Recovery in Men With Different Athletic Training Levels: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Overview

This study is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial designed to examine whether 8 weeks of Cistanche deserticola supplementation, when combined with a standardized anaerobic training program, can improve anaerobic exercise performance, recovery, and selected body composition outcomes in young adult men with different athletic training levels. Participants will be assigned to receive either Cistanche deserticola extract or a matched placebo while completing the same supervised anaerobic training program. The study will assess changes in anaerobic performance, including Wingate test outcomes and jump performance, as well as recovery-related indicators such as blood lactate, creatine kinase, malondialdehyde, testosterone, cortisol, and the testosterone-to-cortisol ratio. Body composition outcomes, including body fat percentage and skeletal muscle mass, will also be evaluated. The purpose of this study is to determine whether Cistanche deserticola supplementation provides additional benefits beyond training alone, and whether these effects differ between highly trained and recreationally trained participants.

Interventions

• Dietary supplement Cistanche deserticola
  Participants receive Cistanche deserticola extract paste at a dose of 5 g/day for 8 weeks. The supplement is administered in two sachets per day, one after breakfast and one after lunch. The product is derived from Cistanche deserticola Y.C. Ma cultivated in Inner Mongolia and consists primarily of phenylethanoid glycosides. Batch-specific quality-control documentation is provided by the supplier to ensure consistency.
• Dietary supplement Matched placebo paste
  Participants receive a matched placebo for 8 weeks. The placebo is administered in two sachets per day, one after breakfast and one after lunch, following the same schedule as the experimental supplement. It contains maltodextrin, microcrystalline cellulose, caramel coloring, and a food-grade bittering agent, and is matched to the active supplement in appearance, weight, texture, and taste.
• Behavioral Standardized anaerobic training program
  All participants complete the same supervised standardized anaerobic training program 3 times per week for 8 consecutive weeks. Each session lasts approximately 50 to 65 minutes and includes a dynamic warm-up, repeated sprint training, explosive/strength-support exercises, short-bout high-intensity interval training, and a cool-down. Training load is progressively increased across the intervention period, and attendance as well as session rating of perceived exertion are recorded throughout the

Primary outcome measures

• Peak power during the 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test [Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)]
• Squat jump height [Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)]
• Countermovement jump [Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)]

Secondary outcome measures (10)

• Average power during the 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test [Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)]
• Minimum power during the 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test [Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)]
• Power drop during the 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Test [Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)]
• Post-exercise blood lactate response [Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)]
• Serum creatine kinase concentration [Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)]
• Serum malondialdehyde concentration [Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)]
• Serum testosterone concentration [Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)]
• Body fat percentage [Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)]
• Skeletal muscle mass [Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)]
• Serum cortisol concentration [Time frame: Baseline (week 0) and post-intervention (week 8)]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Male, aged 18 to 25 years
• Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 25.0 kg/m²
• Able and willing to provide written informed consent
• Willing to comply with study procedures, supplementation, training, and assessments
• Belonging to one of the following athletic training strata:
• High-level elite stratum: Chinese National Level-1 Athlete standard in sprint-related events, regular training in past 12 months and active during study
• Amateur stratum: regular exercise-training background in past 12 months without National Level-1 status

Exclusion criteria

• Use of steroids or ergogenic supplements during study
• Known cardiovascular, metabolic, musculoskeletal, or other conditions making participation unsafe or affecting outcomes
• Current use of medications affecting muscle growth, recovery, hormones, or high-intensity performance
• Current injury or limitation preventing safe participation
• Known allergy or intolerance to supplement/placebo ingredients
• Participation in another clinical trial or structured intervention during study period
• Inability or unwillingness to comply with protocol
• Any other condition deemed unsuitable by investigators

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Double blind

Primary purpose

Health services research

Study locations

China · 1 center

• Wuhan Sport University — Wuhan

Publications

• Bassett DR Jr. International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Aug;35(8):1396. doi: 10.1249/01.MSS.0000078923.96621.1D. No abstract available. PMID 12900695
• Metter EJ, Talbot LA, Schrager M, Conwit R. Skeletal muscle strength as a predictor of all-cause mortality in healthy men. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2002 Oct;57(10):B359-65. doi: 10.1093/gerona/57.10.b359. PMID 12242311
• Foster C, Florhaug JA, Franklin J, Gottschall L, Hrovatin LA, Parker S, Doleshal P, Dodge C. A new approach to monitoring exercise training. J Strength Cond Res. 2001 Feb;15(1):109-15. PMID 11708692
• Bobbert MF, Gerritsen KG, Litjens MC, Van Soest AJ. Why is countermovement jump height greater than squat jump height? Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1996 Nov;28(11):1402-12. doi: 10.1097/00005768-199611000-00009. PMID 8933491
• Thomas S, Reading J, Shephard RJ. Revision of the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q). Can J Sport Sci. 1992 Dec;17(4):338-45. PMID 1330274
• Adlercreutz H, Harkonen M, Kuoppasalmi K, Naveri H, Huhtaniemi I, Tikkanen H, Remes K, Dessypris A, Karvonen J. Effect of training on plasma anabolic and catabolic steroid hormones and their response during physical exercise. Int J Sports Med. 1986 Jun;7 Suppl 1:27-8. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1025798. No abstract available. PMID 3744643
• Oliver JL, Ramachandran AK, Singh U, Ramirez-Campillo R, Lloyd RS. The Effects of Strength, Plyometric and Combined Training on Strength, Power and Speed Characteristics in High-Level, Highly Trained Male Youth Soccer Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Med. 2024 Mar;54(3):623-643. doi: 10.1007/s40279-023-01944-8. Epub 2023 Oct 28. PMID 37897637
• Aslam S, Habyarimana JD, Bin SY. Neuromuscular adaptations to resistance training in elite versus recreational athletes. Front Physiol. 2025 Jun 9;16:1598149. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1598149. eCollection 2025. PMID 40551899

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07546513 · 2025161

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗